Devices and methods for electric field sensing

Abstract

A stand-off sensor assembly is provided. The sensor assembly includes a plurality of electron state definers for generating resonant tunneling current in response to the electric field, wherein the electron state definers include at least one variable characteristic such that a change in the variable characteristic affects the tunneling current, and a monitor for monitoring a change in the tunneling current exiting an electron state definer based on a change in the variable characteristic of the tunneling device.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of electric field sensing, and more particularly to resonant tunneling based electric field sensors and methods of making and using the same.[0002]Stand-off sensing of an electric field may be required in certain applications. For example, non-invasive sensing may be required so that the electric field is not disturbed by the presence of an external body (sensing device). In one example application, the electric field to be sensed may be in a range from about 10 microvolt per meter to about 100 microvolts per meter at a stand-off distance of about 1 cm. Application specific frequency ranges may be in a range from about 0.5 Hz to about 30 Hz with bandwidth bins of about 5 Hz.[0003]Conventional approaches to stand-off electric field sensing include optical approaches, capacitive approaches and approaches employing a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). SQUID requires cryo-cooling, hence, is not considered...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]In another embodiment, a system for sensing a parameter representative of an electric field is provided from a stand-off distance. The system includes a sensor assembly having a resonant tunneling device to generate resonant tunneling current modulated by the electric field, wherein the resonant tunneling device includes a variable characteristic, such that a change in the variable characteristic affects t...

Problems solved by technology

SQUID requires cryo-cooling, hence, is not considered viable from a monetary and space point of view.

Optical devices for such optical approaches can meet sensitivity requirements, however, these optical devices face challenges with regard to packaging requirements from a size, weight and cost perspective.

Capacitive approaches provide a global optimum with respect to stand-off distance, however, disadvantageously, the capacitive devices, such as capacitive sensors suffer from low frequency electronic noise.

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